A special comment

I'm getting a lot of comments here from Gears fans and players, but I'm also getting a few that I consider to be very special, because they come from folks that are good friends of mine that I've not heard from in decades. This one comes from Bruce Cech. Bruce and I went all through Nelle Haley Elementary school together. We were in the 3rd grade together when he advanced and was wisely flunked and then ended up a year behind him. As it turned out, Bruce became (if I recall correctly) the Captain of patrol boys in the 6th grade and then ended up training me to be a captain the next year. So to say that Bruce and I go way back would be an understatement. It is Bruce's story, however, that I find must be elevated beyond the "comment's" area- so here it is. Bruce, it is GREAT to hear from you after all these years.

“ I was an usher at the Civic Center in the early days of the Gears..Then a season ticketholder...I broke into broadcasting having worked at WSAM. And it was Al Blade that inspired me to get into play-by-play hockey broadcasting. My first gig was calling Alaska Gold King mens senior hockey in Fairbanks, Alaska. Dennis Desrosiers hired me to call Saginaw General/Hawks hockey for two seasons...Alaska called again and I returned to call University of Alaska Nanook Hockey...Just completed my 23rd season as voice of the Nanooks, members of the CCHA!!! BRUCE CECH(Saginaw High 1975) March 29, 2011 2:50 AM”

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WELCOME to Saginaw Gears Dot Com

On this site you will find true stories surronding the Saginaw Gears. Written by Wes Oleszewski, who is the son of "Walt" who was the Gears Zamboni driver through the entire existance of the IHL team from 1972 to 1983. These are the little events that were witnessed from Zamboni Alley at the Saginaw Civic Center, (now called the Dow Center) plus a whole lot more!

After many years of having this site on the back-burner, I finally got it up and working. I have a lot of stuff to add, so check back often.

This is NOT a "stats." site. If you are looking for hockey stats. you've come to the wrong place. Rather these are fun and amusing tales told with painful honesty by someone who witnessed the events. It is intended as a time machine to take you back to some fun times in minor league hockey of the 1970s. Much of what is seen here comes from my personal journals recalling individual events. Thus if you get Wren Blair's book "The Bird" and discover that his dates of events are one year off... it is because they ARE one year off. Apparently his ghost writer was a bit lax in his Gears research.

Also as of 1/7/2013 We'd like to welcome columnist and sports writer Jon McQuinn to Saginaw Gears Dot Com. He'll be adding stuff to the site from his own treasure chest of personal Gears memories. His contributions will help get my wife off my back for working on a web site that doesn't pay me anything. So, if you see Jon around town- tell him what a great job he's doing and how good his stories are- because, just like me, Jon isn't getting paid a dang dime for the stuff he put on this site! So, all the two of us have to go on is our own egos... and in my case, that doesn't get ya' far.

And, on 2/25/13 we welcomed yet another contributor to Saginaw Gears Dot Com; Greg Winters! For purposes of disclosure, Greg and I went to elementary school together in Sheridan Park. We were in the third grade together the year that I flunked. He, however, went on ahead of me as I repeated the grade. That actually worked out for me because when Greg was in the 6th grade ahead of me, he was a lieutenant on the school safety patrol and I was a just a patrol boy. Greg was instrumental in recommending me for Captain for the following school year- so I sort of owe him... from waaaaaay back in the day. Also, like me, Greg worked at the Civic Center on the "labor crew" which is a name for the guys who work hard behind the scenes to make it all happen. When the circus moved out and the Gears came back into the Civic Center, that ice didn't get there by magic- a lot of guys worked very long hours to put it there- and Greg was one of them. He was also there most of the time when you, the Gears fans, were not. As a result, he has some very fun behind the scenes stories to tell. Look for his "Behind The Scenes" icon to read his stuff.

So- start the time machine! Begin reading! And check back often for up-dates and if you have a tale to add- do it... just keep in mind that if it's boring or poorly written we'll just edit or delete it anyhow.